Getting Around London — skip the car, save thousands

London has one of the most comprehensive public transport networks in the world. Used correctly, it's also one of the cheapest ways to move around a major city. This is everything you need to know.

Fare Calculator

Oyster / contactless estimates — real logic coming soon

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Off-peak(weekends, evenings & weekday daytime)

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London Underground

Oyster and contactless — never buy a paper ticket

Official site

The Tube runs across 11 lines and 272 stations. Always use Oyster or a contactless bank card — paper single tickets cost nearly double. Daily and weekly caps mean you stop paying once you've hit the ceiling, no matter how many journeys you take.

Key fares & facts

Zone 1 off-peak single: £2.80
Zone 1 daily cap: £8.10
Peak hours: Mon–Fri 06:30–09:30 & 16:00–19:00

Budget tips

Travel after 09:30 on weekdays to pay off-peak fares.
Tap in and out with the same card to ensure caps calculate correctly.
Night Tube runs Fri–Sat on major lines.

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London Buses

Hopper fare: two journeys for the price of one

Official site

Every bus journey in London costs a flat £1.75. The Hopper fare means your second bus within 60 minutes of your first tap is free. Cash is not accepted.

Key fares & facts

Single fare: £1.75
Daily cap (bus only): £5.25
Hopper window: 60 minutes

Budget tips

Chain two bus journeys within an hour to save £1.75.
Buses run 24 hours on most major routes.
Check Citymapper for the fastest bus — traffic can be unpredictable.

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Elizabeth Line

The fastest east–west route through central London

Official site

The Elizabeth line runs from Reading/Heathrow to Shenfield/Abbey Wood. Within TfL zones it uses standard Oyster/contactless fares and caps. Faster and wider than standard Tube trains.

Key fares & facts

Zone 1–2 off-peak single: £3.40
Paddington → Heathrow: £13.50 off-peak

Budget tips

Bond Street to Liverpool Street takes under 8 minutes.
Far cheaper than Heathrow Express — allow 30 extra minutes.

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Santander Cycles

£3 day pass — as many 30-minute rides as you want

Official site

800+ docking stations. Pay £3 for a day's access and every ride under 30 minutes is included. Faster than the bus for short trips.

Key fares & facts

Day pass: £3.00
Included ride: First 30 min

Budget tips

Dock and re-dock every 30 mins to avoid extra charges.
Annual membership is £90/year for frequent riders.

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Railcards

A railcard pays for itself after 3 return trips

Official site

Railcards give 1/3 off most fares for £30/year. Essential for any intercity travel and can be linked to your Oyster for 1/3 off off-peak Tube fares.

Key fares & facts

Annual cost: £30
Discount: 1/3 off

Budget tips

Link your Railcard to your Oyster at a Tube station for off-peak savings.
Buy a 3-year card to save £20 vs three annual ones.